Shanghai: The Indian duo of Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna has set up a summit clash with Leander Paes and his Czech partner Radek Stepanek after both pairs won their respective semifinal matches in the Shanghai Masters here on Saturday.
The seventh-seeded Indian combo reached their second ATP World Tour Masters final of the season after beating the British pair of Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins 6-7 (4), 6-3, 10-8 in an hour and 36 minutes.
The fourth seeded Indo-Czech duo outplayed Marin Cilic of Croatia and Brazil’s Marcelo Melo 6-0, 6-2 in just 57 minutes.
Currently eighth in the ATP doubles team rankings race to London, Bhupathi and Bopanna are bidding to qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals by winning their second ATP World Tour title of the season, after victory in Dubai.
Paes and Stepanek had an easy outing, breaking their opponents six times.
Women’s results
Meanwhile, in another tournament, Chang Kai-chen of Taiwan beat top-seeded Sam Stosur of Australia 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (3) on Saturday to advance to the final of the Japan Open.
The 21-year-old Chang will face Britain’s Heather Watson on Sunday after she defeated local favourite Misaki Doi of Japan 7-6 (2), 7-5 in the other semifinal.
Watson is bidding to be the first British woman to win an WTA singles event since 1988. (Agencies)
Sydney: Australia’s five-time Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe has spent much of his life battling depression, and even considered suicide, excerpts from a new book by the swimmer revealed.
The swimmer also uses the book to address persistent rumours about his sexuality, saying: “For the record, I am not gay”, adding that he would one day like to have a family.
The soon-to-be-released book “This is Me: The Autobiography” describes the athlete’s struggle with what he describes as “crippling” depression, which led him at times to drink large quantities of alcohol.
“I even considered specific places or a specific way to kill myself – but then always baulked, realising how ridiculous it was. Could I have killed myself?” the 30-year-old wrote in an excerpt in a local newspaper.
“Looking back, I don’t think so but there were days in my life that even now make me shudder.”
Known as the “Thorpedo”, the Olympic great retired in 2006 after a glittering career in which he ruled the pool from 1998 to 2004, taking nine Olympic medals and 11 world titles and setting 13 long course world records.
The new book reveals that Thorpe, under intense media scrutiny from his teens, often felt like “a performing seal” and retiring at the age of just 24 was about reclaiming his life.
“I realised how much enjoyment everyone else got out of my swimming: friends, family, coaches, the public – Australians go nuts when you win gold medals,” he said in an interview with the same newspaper.
“It made people happy, but it made me miserable.”
Thorpe said he never missed a training session due to alcohol and was able to hide the truth from sports psychologists and coaches while an elite athlete.
“It was the only way I could get to sleep,” he said of his drinking.
Thorpe’s attempted comeback to the Olympic arena in 2012 flopped, with the swimmer failing to qualify for London at March’s Olympic trials, little more than a year after announcing ambitious plans to come out of retirement.
But he said despite the praise he received for his commentary for the BBC at the Olympics, he wants to compete for Australia at next year’s world championships. (AFP)
Kapil Sibal unveils the plaque of the proposed permanent campus of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Sohra on Friday. (ST)
SHILLONG: Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Kapil Sibal, said that institutes like the National Institute of Technology (NIT) which would come up in Sohra can address issues like the perennial problem of water scarcity in the area.
After laying the foundation stone of the NIT Sohra at Saitsohpen on Friday, Sibal said he is aware that Sohra is facing the problem of scarcity of water despite having a lot of rainfall due to the nature of its terrain.
“It is important for the NIT to come up with the solution to the problems being faced by the local population with applied research,” Sibal, who is also in charge of Communication and Information Technology, said.
The veteran political leader asserted that the Congress-led UPA Government has laid special focus on the North Eastern Region.
“It is during the tenure of the Congress-led Government that 10 NITs have been established since 2004, with a large number of these institutions being set up in the Northeastern region,” he said.
“We have established these institutions here since the Government realizes that the youth from this part of the country have great aspirations which can only be realized through the setting up of high quality institutions of excellence in this part of the country,” he said, adding, “This is the right time and environment for the youth to apply their minds and achieve levels of excellence that they have not had access to.”
Stating that the country has a population of 400 million aged between 0 and 14 years, Sibal said this young population is ready to transform the country.
He also said the solutions, which should be affordable, should have an impact on the lives of the locals.
“I have come to lay the foundation stone of the NIT Sohra permanent campus with a lot of hope. I would like to see this campus becomes a world class campus,” he said.
“The campus should be able to motivate the young minds and should also be a place where young people feel comfortable,” Sibal said, while also suggesting that world class facilities should be put in place so that faculty from all over the country and also abroad come and stay in Sohra to impart education to the students.
While stating that 50 per cent of the seats in the NIT will be reserved for students belonging to Meghalaya, Sibal also stressed on the importance to open opportunities for students from outside the State for a better understanding of mindsets.
Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, who was also present at the function, said it is befitting to have this institution in Sohra as it is a place which is world renowned.
“When we give opportunities for the human mind to be more creative and innovative, we see wonders happening. This is exactly what we see today,” the Chief Minister said, adding that Shillong and Meghalaya need more of such institutions as 70 per cent of North East people who are holding high posts in other parts of the country are products of institutions based in Shillong.
“Shillong has contributed immensely to the overall growth and development of the whole region,” Dr Sangma added.
Meanwhile, NIT Sohra Officer on Special Duty (OSD) D Goswami said the targeted deadline to complete the campus is 2015 while also informing that a total amount of Rs 250 crore has been sanctioned for the campus.
He said the institute started its activities in 2010 with SVNIT, Surat as the mentor institute by admitting the first batch of B Tech. students in three disciplines in the SVNIT campus which has a total intake of 90 students.
“We would be shifting the students of the first and second batch to the temporary campus in Shillong from SVNIIT, Surat in January,” Goswami said.
Education Minister Prof. RC Laloo presided over the function.
SHILLONG: Union Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD), Kapil Sibal, has informed that the Centre has already amended the RTE Act, 2009 to address the issues concerning the composition of the School Managing Committees (SMC).
“Under the Act, the managing committees would take care of the management of the schools. If at all there has to be a representation of the parents in the SMC, they would only have an advisory role,” Sibal said while taking to news persons in Sohra on Friday.
Sibal also said the RTE Act is not going to disturb the existing composition of the SMC in the minority and private aided institutions.
“The management will be done by the minority institutions and private bodies itself,” Sibal asserted.
Earlier during the recent Autumn Session of the State Assembly, Education Minister Prof. RC Laloo had informed that the HRD Ministry had rejected a proposal made by the State Government to amend Section 21 of the RTE Act, 2009 which concerns with composition of the School Managing Committees (SMC).
Opposition leader Conrad K Sangma, while expressing concern over the rejection of the proposal by the Centre, had said, “As per Section 21 of the RTE Act seventy-five per cent of the strength of the school managing committee shall be constituted from amongst parents and guardians of children studying in the school.”
He had stated that Section 21 needed amendment since majority of the educational institution in the State are managed and administered by religious institutions.
Sibal’s statement on Friday, has put to rest all apprehensions about the management of religious and minority-run institutions in the State.
SHILLONG: Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal on Friday impressed many with his punctuality.
Sibal reached the venue of the foundation stone laying ceremony of the permanent campus of the National Institute Technology (NIT) at Saitsohpen, Sohra ahead of the scheduled time of 9 am.
What is interesting to note is that the Union HRD Minister came all the way from Delhi by a chopper to attend the function.
Sibal’s punctuality, however, proved to be an embarrassment for Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma who could not make it to the function on time.
In fact, Sibal unveiled the foundation stone in the absence of the Chief Minister.
As the saying goes old habits die hard, the late arrival of the Chief Minister to any function is not a new thing.
On more than one occasion, Dr Sangma had made audience and the function organizers wait for hours for his arrival.
The Sohra programme was the first occasion where the organizers went ahead with the programme without having to wait for the Chief Minister’s arrival.
JOWAI: The Lamdibok Sumer-led Executive Committee of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) has come under severe criticism amongst its members for allegedly misuse of Council funds to the tune of Rs 1.95 crore by some Executive Members and officers.
Sources alleged that the misuse of public funds has badly affected the financial position of the Council which is facing acute financial crisis due to which payment of last month’s salary to the staff has been delayed.
Sources informed that in the last Executive Committee (EC) meeting held recently some EC members hotly debated the alleged misuse of funds by some members and officers of the Council.
“Some of the members even banged the CEM’s table on learning that some EMs including the CEM himself were involved in misuse of the Council funds,” sources said.
According to sources money was withdrawn from the Council fund on three separate occasions.
The first withdrawal of Rs 1.18 crore was made in March and the second and third withdrawal of Rs 50 lakh and Rs 35 lakh respectively was made in August and September.
JHADC sources informed that the closing balance of the Council during March ending as per the Personal Ledger Account (PLA) available with the Treasury Office was Rs 5,62,03,417 out of which the Council has made a single withdrawal of Rs 46,35,765 in August and again Rs 2,85,71,440 in September. Both the withdrawals were made for payment of salaries, pension, travelling allowance and others.
“Now the JHADC is left only with Rs 71,87,074,” sources said adding that the Council requires a minimum amount of Rs 2.50 crore for payment of salary for the staffs and its elected members.
Sources also informed that some of the EC members who were not involved in the misappropriation of the funds have even threatened to tender their resignation over the issue.
SHILLONG: The UDP leadership on Friday expressed dissatisfaction over party legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit coming out in criticism of party’s decision regarding allotment of tickets for the 2013 State polls.
The UDP legislator from Nongkrem had threatened to quit the party if the name of Dr Md Mizanur Rehman Kazi, who has been awarded the Phulbari ticket, was not dropped from the party’s candidate list.
“The issue of allotment of the party ticket is an internal matter of the party. I do not think it is right on the part of Basaiawmoit to publicly rake up this issue,” UDP president Dr Donkupar Roy said on Friday. “If he (Basiawmoit) has an issue with any of the decision taken by the party, he should have tried to resolve it within the four walls of the party,” Dr Roy said.
“I am disappointed to see the party legislator going to the media to express his unhappiness with certain decisions taken by the party,” the UDP president said, while adding that the party would not tolerate any such action by any member in future.
When asked if the UDP leadership is contemplating action against Basaiawmoit, Dr Roy said, “I do not want to say anything at the moment.”
While defending the decision to allot the party ticket to Dr Kazi, the UDP president said the State Election Committee (SEC) has taken this decision to allot the party ticket following the recommendation by the party unit at both the district and constituency level.
Resignation of Latiplang Kharkongor
Speaking on the issue of resignation of Nongthymmai sitting MDC Latiplang Kharkongor, the UDP president said he is yet to accept the resignation.
“I have personally spoken to Kharkongor to reconsider his decision. I told him to discuss the matter with his supporters again before taking a final call,” Dr Roy said.
To a query on why the party leadership had overlooked the merger agreement signed with KHNAM, the UDP chief said, “The merger agreement only says that they would allot the party ticket to party MDCs who have strong chances of winning. In the case of Nongthymmai ticket, majority in the party feel that Dr Jemino Mawthoh has a better chance of winning the election,” he said.
TURA/SHILLONG: Suspected GNLA cadres shot dead a surrendered cadre identified as Riknam A Sangma alias Wanding at around 12.30 am on Friday after entering his house at Songsak Dikkagittim in East Garo Hills.
The militants also lost one of their cadres when Riknang put up a brave fight and attacked them with a dao (machete) resulting in the death of one of their own member.
The GNLA militants came to Riknang’s house at around 12:30 AM and called him out. When he refused to open the door they broke it down and started entering when Riknang attacked them with the dao.
He struggled with one of the militants identified as one Babang and swung the dao on the cadre hitting him on the forehead. As he fought with Babang, another militant came from behind and shot him on the back of the head. In the process the bullet hit Riknang and also Babang killing both of them on the spot.
According to the wife of the surrendered cadre, the GNLA cadre also died on the spot and his body was taken away by the GNLA militants.
Earlier in June this year, a surrendered cadre identified as Sonaram R Sangma, was killed by a group of GNLA cadres at his house near Nangalbibra police station in South Garo Hills district.
On January 28, the GNLA militants torched the house of Sonaram alias Chonkam at Darangdura in the South Garo Hills. The family members of the cadre were also chased away by the militants.
After surrendering before police on January 7, Sonaram had deposited a hand grenade and helped the police recover another AK-47 rifle and 150 rounds of ammunition from a hideout in the jungles of the South Garo Hills.
Later on February 28, the rebels torched the house belonging to another surrendered GNLA cadre identified as Sengrim G Momin alias Waljan at Lower Lima in East Garo Hills. Momin had surrendered before the police at Resubelpara in East Garo Hills in the first week of February, without depositing any arms.
Earlier on February 8 this year, the house of another surrendered militant, Andreas Momin alias Nangnang, was torched by the GNLA cadres at Bokkingre village around 2 km from Williamnagar, East Garo Hills district. The militants also chased away his family members, as he had surrendered before the police in Williamnagar on August 13 last year, along with an AK-56 rifle, and one Chinese hand grenade.
The militant outfit resorted to fratricidal killing after they warned that all the cadres who have taken away the arms to surrender should refund the money in lieu of the weapons deposited before the police.
Earlier, the GNLA’s self-styled sergeant major and commander of the southern range, Rakkam Marak, said the outfit had also set a deadline to the cadres to refund the money for taking away the weapons.
After the incidents of attack on surrendered GNLA men and their families, many of them had taken shelter in the houses of relatives or at police stations.
GNLA attacks
on ex-cadres
June 17: Surrendered cadre Sonaram Sangma killed
February 28: House of Sengrim G Momin alias Waljan torched
February 8: House of Andreas Momin alias Nangnang torched
January 28: House of Sonaram Sangma torched, family chased away
SHILLONG: Upholding the fundamental nature of its existence in preserving the indigenous cultures and traditions of North East India, the Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures (DBCIC), the 2nd largest museum in Asia, on Friday stepped beyond the cultures of the North East to add a new feather to its existing glory.
Formally inaugurated by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi in 2010, this unique centre which displays the indigenous cultures of the eight Northeastern states including Sikkim, all under one roof, saw the addition of a new gallery- ‘Our Neighbours’ – which aims at showcasing the cultures of the five neighbouring countries of the North East (China, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh).
Considered as a cultural bridge of friendship with the five neighbouring countries, this new gallery displayed a whole range of cultures and traditions of Bhutan, China, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar.
The new gallery was blessed by Rev Dominic Jala, the Archbishop of Shillong and was inaugurated by Rev Fr. Joseph Almeida, the former provincial of the Salesian of Don Bosco, Guwahati province.
Interestingly, the day coincided with the 74th birthday of the director of the Museum, Rev Fr. Joseph Puthenpurackal.
Inside the gallery, one can find fibre glass life size figures of Bhutanese, Chinese, Bangladeshi, Burmese and Nepalese people. The life size figures were made by artists from Kolkata – Nasir and Jayata.
A computer fitted to the gallery provides detailed information about the five neighbouring countries.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, Director of the Museum, Rev Fr. Joseph Puthenpurackal highlighted the purpose of this new initiative stating that “This gallery will teach the visitors about the richness and beauty of the countries surrounding the seven states of the North East”.
Fr Joseph further mentioned that it took almost 8 months to study the concept and bring together the cultures of the five countries under one roof. Fr Joseph also informed that with the clearance of the project by the North Eastern Council (NEC), the museum will very soon add one more feather to its cap – ‘The Rainbow’ gallery which will basically showcase the culture and tradition of 300 tribes and sub-tribes of the Northeast.
“It was noticed that there is a fear of sub-tribes like the Khynriam, War and Lyngngam besides others, who being small in number, could be absorbed by the bigger tribes like the Khasis, Pnars and the Garos. We don’t want them to lose their identity because these are the small groups which add flavour to the whole existence of the State”, Fr Joseph observed.
“They need to carry the culture anywhere they go be it in the educational institutions or any other institutions as I believe that ‘Culture’ is the root of our identity”, he added.
With only 7000 visitors in the past few years, it was informed that till December 2011, the number of visitors has increased to about 35, 868. It was further informed that the number of visitors from all over the country and abroad, doubles every year.
With 56,000 square feet of floor space and 15,154 square feet of display wall space, DBCIC has seven floors and 17 galleries altogether displaying cultural artifacts of the Northeastern region under one roof. Its seven floors represent the seven states of the Northeast.
SHILLONG: A Garo Hills based doctor, on Thursday, had a narrow escape when she unknowingly conducted blood tests of two militants.
According to police, two unidentified youths, suspected to be militants, went to the Mendipathar PHC in North Garo Hills for blood tests for detection of malaria. Dr Rezia K Sangma, who was on duty at that time, agreed to conduct the tests without knowing that they were militants.
After conducting the test, the duo forced the doctor to furnish the test report within an hour.
When the doctor expressed her inability to do so, they threatened her by brandishing their pistols at her. They left the PHC in anger, but not before firing at least three rounds in the air.
Though the police are yet to establish the identity of the rebels, it is suspected that the two youth could be either from the GNLA or the ANVC (B), who are active in North Garo Hills.
This is the second case of harassment on doctors posted in the far flung areas of Garo Hills.
Recently, Dr Walesha N Sangma of Chokpot PHC had been assaulted by some police constables, prompting a lot out outcry.
